Master of Mathematics (Computer Science)

MMath option requirements  

For the MMath degree, students must choose one of three options and confirm their chosen option before the second term of study.

• Thesis option: 4 one-term graduate courses and a thesis
• Research paper option: 7 one-term graduate courses and a research paper
• Coursework option: 8 one-term graduate courses
• Coursework option-data science: 8 one-term graduate courses
• MMath co-op option: available for any of the three options above
• Timelines for master's programs

MMath thesis option

The basic requirements for the thesis option are 4 one-term graduate courses and a thesis. 

Courses

• At least 3 courses must be above the 600 series, including a minimum of one course in the 800 series. A student is required to have no more than 2 courses in a single area (see Areas Table). Remedial courses cannot be counted towards the course requirement.
• To maintain progress, a student must earn credit in a minimum of 2 courses each term until the course requirements are completed. A request to waive this requirement must be made in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies by the student's supervisor.

Supervision

• A student must arrange supervision with a faculty member in the School by the end of the first term, and have agreed with the proposed supervisor on the general area of the proposed research. An Agreement to Supervise form must be submitted to the CS Graduate Office no later than the beginning of the second term.

Thesis

• In consultation with the supervisor, the student must select a research topic for the thesis by the end of the third term. Two readers for the thesis, in addition to the supervisor, must also be chosen. The mutual agreement of the student, supervisor, and readers must be confirmed in writing with the submission of the Agreement to Read the MMath Thesis form to the CS Graduate Office. The agreement must explicitly state the topic of the thesis, and the expected completion date of the thesis. The supervisor and readers are normally members of the School of Computer Science, and normally at least one must be a regular faculty member of the School of Computer Science. The majority of the thesis committee must be drawn from CS faculty. The readers must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
• The thesis requirement requires directed research or scholarly work, and writing a thesis embodying the results. The thesis should be equivalent to four one-term courses in effort required.
• A copy of the thesis must be submitted for display to the Mathematics Graduate Office (MGO) at the time the thesis is distributed to the readers. The thesis should be on display at least 3 weeks before the seminar.
• The results of the thesis research must be presented at a publicly-announced seminar (in the same manner as a School seminar).
• The thesis must be approved by the supervisor and two readers. Credit for the Master's Thesis is assigned when the supervisor returns the signed MMath Thesis Acceptance form and a copy of the seminar announcement to the Director of Graduate Studies.
• When all degree requirements have been met, the student submits an electronic copy of the accepted thesis, in the format prescribed in the official University of Waterloo Thesis Regulations and Guide, to UWSPace for formatting review. When approved, this copy will be accepted as the official thesis deposit. The student should advise the CS Graduate Office if the supervisor requires a bound copy of the thesis and this will be arranged.

MMath research paper option

Basic requirements are 7 one-term courses and a research paper. 

Courses

• 7 one-term graduate courses plus a research paper are required, not including required remedial courses. At least 4 courses must be above the 600 series, including a minimum of 2 courses in the 800 series. A student may not have more than 3 of the required 7 courses (other than the research paper) used to meet the degree requirements in a single area (see Areas Table).
• A student must earn credit in a minimum of 2 courses each term until the requirements are completed, including the research paper. A request to waive this requirement must be made in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies, by the student's supervisor. Students are encouraged to take 3 courses each term. If no remedial courses are required, the student should complete within 4 terms.

Research Paper

• The student should be working on the Master's Research Paper by the 3rd or 4th term of registration, or earlier at the student's discretion. Work on the research paper should be equivalent to a one-term course. The research paper must be read and approved by the student's supervisor and one reader. The supervisor and reader are normally members of the School of Computer Science, and normally at least one of them is a regular faculty member in the School of Computer Science.
• Students must present their research paper or a related study in an appropriate seminar or class. The presentation should be publicly announced (in the same manner as a School seminar).
• When all requirements have been met, the student must present one unbound copy of the research paper to the School.

The Master's Research Paper requirement is met and credit assigned when the supervisor returns the MMath Essay Acceptance form and a copy of the presentation announcement to the Director of Graduate Studies.

**The Master's Research Paper is not an entry level option